Bottom-finishing machine.



C..PEASE. BOTTOM FINISHING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 190e.

Patented June 7, 1910.

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C. PEASB, BOTTOM FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906.

Patented June 7, 1910.

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C. PEASE. BOTTOM FINISBING MACHINE. ArPLIoATioN FILED MAR. 9, 190e.

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G. PEASEn BOTTOM PINISHING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1906. 60,391 Patented June?, 1910.

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CHARLES PEASE, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED-XPEDITE FIN-ISHING COMPANY, GF BERWICK, MAINE, A CORPORATION OE MAINE.

BOTTOM-FINISHING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .1, CHARLES PEAsE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and Gommonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Bottom-FinishingMachines, of which the following description, -in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to burnishing machines and particularly tomachines for burnishing the bottoms of slices.

In the manufacture of the better grades of shoes it is usual to apply tothe shoe bottoms a finishing composition containing wax and a desiredcoloring material and then to burnish the surfaces to be finished byrubbing them with a heated iron which melts the wax and polishes thesurfaces. rThis operation is performed by hand labor and is slow and, assome skill and judgment are required in the case of the heated iron toavoid injuring the stock, the process is expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine by which theburnishing of shoe bottoms can be performed with great rapidity and atless cost than heretofore.

An important feature of the invention consists in a rotary burnishingtool comprising a plurality of burnishing elements presenting an actingface in a plane extending transversely of the axis of rotation of thetool and arranged for rocking movement. Preferably the burnishing'elements are also arranged for movement independently Atoward and fromthe normal plane of the acting face to adapt the tool better to conformto the contour of a surface being burnished. As herein shown theburnishing tool comprises a rotary head having movably mounted upon itslower end face a plurality of approximately sector-shaped burnishingelements. The burnishing elements are connected to the head to slideupwardly therein and to rock independently thereon and means is providedfor holding the burnishing elements yieldingly in a normal position.This construction permits the face of the tool to conform readily to thecontour of the bottom surface of a boot or shoe, each burnishing elementtaking automatically and independently of the other Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed March 9, 1906.

- the tool.

Patented June 7, 1910.

Serial No. 305,093.

burnishing elements a position determined by the contour of the portionof the Work over which it is passing at any instant. Preferably eachburnishing element of a burnishing tool intended for use on the sole ofa shoe forms but a small portion of the acting face of the tool andlight springs may, therefore, be used for holding the burnishingelements in their normal position. This construction has the advantagethat each burnishing element yields readily and therefore the marginalportion of a sole may be burnished without danger of cracking thefinishing material on the edge of the sole, as would be liable to bedone if the burnishing elements of the tool were acted upon by stiffsprings.

A further feature of the invention consists in a burnishing toolcomprising a head or carrier and a plurality of burnishing elementsforming the acting face of the. tool and mounted on the head formovement toward and from the edge of the tool. While this feature of theinvention is not limited to circular-ly moving tools, it is herein shownas embodied in a rotary burnishing tool in which the burnishing elementsare arranged on the lower end face of a head or carrier to movetransversely of the acting face of As herein shown, the burnishingelements are arranged to have a rocking movement in substantially radiallines toward and from the edge of the tool and said elements may also ifdesired yield vertically. This feature of the invention is of particularimportance in a bottom finishing tool which is used in burnishing theportion of the shank of a shoe adjacent to the breast of a heel. Thisportion of the shoe bottom is difficult to finish satisfactorily becausethe burnishing tool is liable to strike and mar the corner of the heelwhen the operator attempts to present the heel in position for the toolto act on the shank close to the breast of the heel. ture of myinvention a shoe may be so presented at an angle to the acting face ofthe tool and inclined laterally that the burnishing elements will rockupwardly as they pass over the shank and may therefore be 105 made toreach to the breast of the heel without striking the edge face of theheel at the corner. This may be done conveniently even where the breastof the heel is concave so that the burnishing tool has to reach back 110In using a tool embodying this feaof the breast corners of the heel infinishing the middle part of the shank. This latter movement is the morereadily effected because the surface of a shankis transversely convexand as each burnishing element in turn rides over the higher middleportion of the shank it is rocked outwardly farthest in passing thedeepest portion ofthe concavity in the breast of the heel. Anotheradvantage incident to this feature of the -invention is that theburnishing elements can move inwardly from their normal position whentheir outer ends meet a guiding surface or an obstruction. Thisconstruction enables a given portion of the path of the acting face ofthe tool to be controlled by pressing the burnishing elements inwardlyaswell as outwardly and allows the burnishing elements to passobstructions without injury to the tool vor to the work.

. For example, if a shoe is so presented that the outer ends of theburnishing elements strike the corner of the heel they will yieldinwardly and pass the obstruction without seriously marring the corner;also the breast of a heel may, if desired, be held against the outerends of the burnishing elements While the rear portion of the shank isbeing burnished, and when so presented the bnrnishing elements willfollow the contour of the breast and burnish the lower portion of thebreast as well as the rear portion of the shank in the angle formed bytheir meeting faces. Preferably the burnishing tool is heatedin orderthat it may melt and polish the wax contained in the finishingcomposition which has been applied to the work, and for this purpose aheating device is centrally supported in the tool in position to heatthe burnishing elements.

It is the practice to nish the shanks of* some shoes differently fromthe foreparts,V as, for example, with finishing compositions ofdifferent colors. In burnishingsuch shoes it is important to be able towork up to the line of separation between the shank and the differentlyfinished forepart without liability of rubbing over the line. For thisreason it is desirable when burnishing the shank adjacent to the line ofseparation from the forepart to present the shoe to the burnishing toolwith the forepart extended toward the operator so that he may watch theprogress of the operation as the line is approached. In thus presentingthe shoe the heel must be kept out of the path of the burnishingelements so that it shall not be struck and marred by them.

A further feature of this invention consists in a circularly movingburnishing tool adapted to burnish the shank of a shoe adjacent to theforepart and having provision for receiving the heel of the shoe out ofthe path of the burnishing elements. As herein shown the burnishing toolis a rotary tool vallows the shoe to be presented for burnishhaving anannular' acting face and provided with a recess within said annularacting face to receive the heel of the shoe while the shank is beingburnished. This construction ing the shank up to the line of separationfrom the forepart while the shoe is held with the toe outward andwithout danger of the heel coming in contact with the burnishingelements and being marred thereby. Preferably a non-rotary shield isprovided in the recess in the burnishing tool to avoid the heel beingstruck by the movin burnishing elements, if it should accidental y bemoved into their path.

These and other features of the invention, including certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, which represent a convenient construction ofburnishing machine embodying' my invention,-Figure l is a perspectiveview of the upper portion of the machine; Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofone of the tools shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line `3--3 ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the larger tool shown in Fig. land illustrates the position of certain of the burnishing elements ofthe tool when acting upon the shank of a shoe adjacent to the breast ofthe heel; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the tool shown in Fig. 4,illustrating the position of one of the burnishing elements when thetool is acting upon the forepart 100 and shank of a shoe; Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 5 and shows the position of certain of theburnishing elements as seen from the section line 6 6 of Fig. 4saidelements being shown in the relative positions occupied by them whileburnishing the shank of a shoe adjacent to the breast of the heel; Fig.7 shows a side elevation of a portion oftheV tool vand asection throughthe shank or other portion of a shoe presenting a convex surface to beburnished; Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating a modied construction;lFig. 9 illustrates a further modification in which the head of the toolis tapering to adapt the tool for working upon the shank adjacent to thebreast of the heel; Fig. 10 is a perspeotive view of one of theburnishing elements employed in the tool shown in Fig. 9; Figs. 11 and12 are perspective views of burnishing elements such as are used in themodification shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the portiono-f the burnishing tool shown in Fig. 6, the shank of the shoe beingshown in section; Fig. 14 shows a modification; Fig. 15 shows a shoebottom 125 upon which the tool shown in Fig. 14 is particularly adaptedfor use.

The frame supports stub shafts 2 and 3 upon which rotate belt pulleys 4and 5. The pulley 4 is longitudinally movable on the 130 shaft 2 and hasa flange 6 adapted to engage frictionally a face 7 of the pulley 5 fordriving the latter. A collar 8 is screwed upon the shaft 2 and has ahandle 9 by which it may be turned to press the flange of the pulley 4into engagement with the pulley 5. Reverse movement of the collar 8`discontinues the pressure and permits the pulley 5 and the parts drivenby it to come to rest. The frame also supports tool shafts 10 and 12which are shown as arranged in vertical. bearings and provided withpulleys 14 and 16, respectively, by which they are driven from a beltrunning over the pulley 5.

Any desired number of tool shafts may be provided according to thenumber of tools which it is desired to employ in the machine and theshafts may be arranged in any preferred way and actuated by any suitablemechanism. The illustrated construction shows one simple and convenientarrangement.

The burnishing tools, which are shown as screwed upon the lower ends ofthe tool shafts so that they can be readily detached to permit tools ofdifferent styles to be conveniently interchanged, comprise a head whichmay be cylindrical, as shown at 20 in Figs. 1 and 2, or frusto-conical,as shown at 22 in Fig. 9. The burnishing elements 23 are mounted uponthe lower end face of the head and may be of any desired shape andnumber. As herein shown, they are narrow blocks, the acting-faces ofwhich resemble a truncated sector and said blocks are arranged in anunbroken series around the margin of Vthe end face of the tool head andextend from the margin or from points a short distance outside themargin radially toward the center of said face. The length of the bur--nishing elements is not essential,but they are herein shown as stoppingshort of the center of the end face of the head in order to leave in themiddle of said end face a space for a purpose to be mentioned. Theburnishing elements are preferably yieldingly mounted in the tool headand are shown as provided with relatively narrow necks 24 which fitslots 26 of a corresponding width in the lower end face of the head. Theburnishing elements are provided at the upper end of the neck 24 withlaterally extending flanges 28, as shown in Fig. 1 and in detail viewsof the burnishing elements found in Figs. 11 and 12. The head 20, whichfor convenience inr manufacture is formed of a plurality of concentricplates as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, has a plurality of recesses 30 intowhich the flanges and shanks of the burnishing elements may be upwardlymoved, as illustrated in Figs.' 5, 6, and '7. The lower walls of theVrecesses 30 form bearings against which the flanges 28 normally rest.

Preferably the burnishing elements are held in their lowermost positionby light springs which permit each burnishing element to yield upwardlywhen work is pressed against t-he acting face of the tool. Thisprovision of a large number of small burnishing elements each pressedupon by a light spring enables the acting face of the tool, which isformed by such burnishing elements, to conform readily to the surfacecontour of the work being burnished. A tool thus constructed is veryeffective even on light soles which would be injured by a burnishingtool comprising a small number of burnishing elements held in positionby stiff springs.

As shown in the main views, the burnishing irons are acted upon byspiral springs 32 contained in sockets in the head 2O and acting throughplungers 34, the lower ends of which rest upon the flanges of theburnishing elements. The plungers may be omitted, if desired, as shownin Figs. 2 and 10, wherein the springs are arranged in direct engagementwith the flanges 28 of the burnishing elements. Fig. 8 shows a thirdconstruction in which a two-armed spring 36 is held in position by akeeper 38 and has one arm in engagement with the head 2O while the otherarm rests in a groove between the flanges 2S. Means may be provided, ifdesired,-as, for example, the adj usting screws 39 shown in Fig. Q-forvarying the tension of the springs which act upon the burnishingelements. This may be desirable to adapt the tool for different classesof work. For burnishing shoes having thin soles light springs arepreferable because they allow the acting face of the tool to con` formto the surface of the sole without applying sufficient pressure to thework to break down the edge of the sole or crack the finishing materialon the edge of the sole. For burnishing heavy soles the springs may beadvantageously adjusted to greater tension or stiffer springs may beused.

Preferably the burnishing elements have a capacity for rocking movementas well as for vertical sliding movement- To this end the recesses 30are shaped to permit the heads or flanges 28 of the burnishing elementsto move freely therein, as shown in the drawings, and preferably alsothe shank 24 of each burnishing element is provided with a vertical slot40 which is traversed by a pivot pin 42 secured to the lower face of thehead 20 by screws 44, as shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. Thisconstruction permits each burnishing element to rock radially withrelation to the head 2O and either outwardly or inwardly with relationto the normal path followed by the burnishing element when the tool isrotated. This radial rocking movement is effected against the pressureof the spring 32 and may or may not be accompanied by a direct verticalsliding movement of the tool, as will be un breast of the heel.

derstood from the several positions of the burnishing elementsillustrated in the drawings. This provision for rocking movement of theburnishing elements in radial lines is of importance in burnishing allof the curved surfaces of a shoe bottom, and it will be understood thatsubstantially all of the surfaces of the shank and sole ofa shoe arecurved surfaces, for it enables each burnishing element to conform tothe surface over which it passes. Thisv provision for radial rockingmovement of the burnishing elements is of particular importance,however, in burnishing the portion of the shank of a shoe which isadjacent to the It is Afound in practice that it is difficult to burnishthis portion of the shank without allowing the burnishing tool to strikeand mar the corners of the heel. With the construction of burnishingtool herein shown the danger of striking the corner of the heel is verymuch reduced,

because the burnishing elements may be made to rock outwardly as theypass over the shank and it is therefore not necessary to hold the shoewith the corners of the heel as near to the normal path of theburnishing elements as would otherwise be required.v

so lthat greatest pressure is applied to the tool by the edge-of theshank last to be acted upon, each burnishing element may be made to rockgradually as it moves Yacross the shank and therefore to approach asclose to the breast of the heel at any point in the width of the shankas may be desired by the operator. This outward movement of theburnishing elements as they pass over the shank of the shoe isillustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 in which the burnishing element `is shownin dotted lines in the position which it is caused to occupy by reasonof its rocking movement. The usually `convex cross ysectional shape ofthe shank of a shoe, indicated in Figs. 6 and 13, causes the burnishingelements to rock outwardly as shown in Figs. 6 and 13 as they ridetoward the higher middle portion of the shank even when theV shoe is nottipped laterally as above suggested. As before stated, the burnishingelements may rock inwardly as well as outwardlyv and this capacity formovement of the burnishing elements is of value in burnishing a shankadjacent to the breast of the heel.

The breast of the heel may, if desired, be

' pressed against the outer ends of the burnishing elements and saidelements will rock inwardly and follow the contour of the breast whilethey burnish the shank and also, it may be, the breast in the anglebetween said surfaces. This capacity of the burnishing elements to moveradially with relation totheir normal circular path permits the actingface of the burnishing iron to conform to the edge contour of thesurface being burnished-as, for example, in the way in which the toolconforms to the edge contour of the rear end of the shank justdescribed. The working face of the burnishing elements may be shaped asdesired and in Figs. 10 and 11 'are shown two styles which have beenfound effective. The head of the tool may be made tapering or in theform of a truncated cone as shown in Fig. 9 to allow the shoe to betipped toward the tool 'without causing the breast of a high heel tocontact with the head. Vhile a single tool may be used for burnishingthe entire bottom of the shoe, a separate tool of relatively smalldiameter is shown in Fig. 1 which is adapted to be employed forburnishin the heel.

Preferably the burnishing irons are heated to enable them to actfto thebest advantage upon-the finishing material with which shoe bottoms aretreated before being burnished. It is found that the rotating burnishingelements create a currentV of air moving outwardly from the tool whichrenders it difficult to heat the irons by a flame directed inwardlytoward them. In view of this condition the machine is provided, as

`herein shown, with a gas burner 50 located centrally upon the lowerface of the tool in the space between the inner ends of the burnishingelements. The burner is provided with a plurality of perforations whichVdirect several gas flames outwardly toward the burnishing elements andheat said elements effectively as they rotate with relation to theburner. i' Gras is shown as supplied to the burners of the several toolsby tubes 52 which are held above the tool shafts by clamps 54.

In a modification shown in Fig. 14: the burnishing tool is provided witha heel-receiving recess located within the annular acting face formed bythe burnishing -ele-V The recess is preferably large.

ments. enough to permit the heel to be moved about 1n it as the shoe ispresented in position for the tool to act upon the shank along the linewhichv separates the shank from a differently finished forepart. Thisline of separation varies in form and position in different shoes,being, sometimes straight and` at other times curved while usuallyitextends obliquely across the shoe bottom as shown in Fig. 15. Inorderfthat the shank may be burnishedraccurately up to this line 'it isiso important that the recess be larger than the heel so that diii'erentshoes may be 'presented in the most convenient position to the tool.

. Preferably the tool is provided with a guard or shield to prevent theedges of the heel from contacting with the inner ends of the burnishingelements. As herein shown the non-rotatable heater is formed with adownwardly extending flange 50X having suitable ducts, as illustrated inthe drawings, for the passage of gas and constitutes a guard or shield.The shield obviously might be independent of the device for heating theburnishing elements.

I-Iaving explained the nature of the mvention and having described aconstruction embodying the same, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States:

1. In a machine of the class described, a burnishing tool comprising arotary head and a plurality oi"- relatively movable burnishing elementsarranged upon the end tace of the head in close proximity to form asubstantially continuous annular acting face.

Q. In amachine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality of burnishing elements presenting an acting facein a plane extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tooland arranged for rocking movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality ot yieldingly supported burnishing elementspresenting an acting i'ace in a plane extending transversely of the axisof rotation of the tool and arranged for independent rocking movement.

4. In a machine of the class described. a burnishing tool comprising ahead and a plurality of burnishing elements mounted on the end of thehead to form the acting face of the tool and movable toward and from theedge of said acting face.

5. In a burnishing tool, a head, and a plurality of burnishing elementsforming the acting face of the tool and connected to the head forsliding movement toward and from the head and for rocking movementtoward and from the edge of the tool.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with actuatingmeans, of a burnishing tool operatively connected therewith andcomprising a head and a plurality of burnishing elements forming theacting face of the tool extending transversely of the axis of rotationof the tool and connected to the head for movement toward and from-theplane of the acting face of the tool and transversely of said actingface.

7. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality of burnishing elements presenting an acting facein a plane extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tooland arranged for movement in substantially radial lines with relation tothe axis of rotation ot the tool.

8. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality of burnishing elements presenting an acting faceextending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tool and mountedfor movement to vary the edge contour of the tool, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a machine of the class described, a burnishing tool comprising arotary head and a plurality ofburnishing elements presenting an actingface in a plane extending transversely of the axis of rotation of thetool, and a connection between the burnishing elements and the head topermit the burnishing elements to yield inwardly from the edge when anobstruction is encountered by the outer ends of said elements.

10. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality oi'f burnishing elements presenting an actingface extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tool andarranged for vertical sliding and transverse rocking movement.

11. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality of burnishing elements presenting an acting faceextending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tool and arrangedfor independent vertical sliding movement and for transverse rockingmovement to enable them to coliform to the surface being acted upon, andmeans for yieldingly holding said burnishing elements in a normalposition.

12. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a head and a plurality of burnishing elements presenting anacting face extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the tool,said burnishing elements being pivotally connected to the head by a pinand slot connection, and means for holding the burnishing elementsyieldingly in a normal position.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a series of burnishing elements arranged to present an actingface in a plane extending transversely of the axis of rotation of thetool, and heating means centrally arranged with relation to saidburnishing elements.

14. In a machine of the class described, a burnishing tool comprising arotary head and a plurality of burnishing elements movably mounted uponthe head to present an acting face in a plane extending transversely ofthe axis of rotation of the head, and a non-rotatably supported gasburner centrally arranged with relation to the acting face of said tool.

15. In a machine for burnishing shoe bottoms, a rotary burnishing toolhaving a yielding annular acting face and a central while-theishank ofthe shoe is being burnished by theacting face of the tool.

19. In a machine for burnishing shoe bot-v toms, a rotary burnishingtool having an annular acting face and a central recess tore-'330 lceive the heel of the shoe'while the shank is being burnished, combinedwith'a guard arranged to prevent the heel from engaging the burnishlngelements. v v K 20. In a machine for burnishing shoe bot- C3T5 toms, arotary burnishing tool having an annular acting face and a centralrecess to re'- ceive the yheel of the shoe while the shank is beingburnished, combined'with a heel guard arranged between said heelreceiving space 340 and the burnishing elements, and having provisionfor heating the burnishing elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed my recess to receive the heel whilethe shank of ghe shoe is being burnished by said acting ace. f,

16. In a machine of the class described, a v5 rotary burnishing toolcomprising an annu- 'lfafacting 'face formed by a plurality ofrelatively movable burnishing elements and having a recess locatedwithinsaid acting face to receive the heel of a shoe while the 10 shankof a shoe is being burnished.

f 17. In a machine ofthe class described, a rotary burnishing toolcomprising a plurality of burnishing elements arranged to pre- Vsent anannular acting face and a central re- 15r cess to receive the heel oftheshoe while the shank of the shoe is -being burnished, said "burnishingelements-being mounted for radial movement toward and from the axis ofrotation of the tool.

"20 18. In a machine of the class described, a name to thisspecification in the presence 01h45 'burnishing tool comprising aplurality of two .subscribing witnesses. fburnishing elements arrangedto present an CHARLES PEASE, annular acting face and movable trans-Witnesses: e' versely of said acting face, said to'ol having BERNARDBARRoWs, 25 ARTHUR L. RUSSELL.

a central recess to receive the heel of a shoe

